Win over Raiders gives Texas room

A victory Saturday gives Texas claim to at least a share of the Big 12 South title and a berth in the conference championship game in San Antonio on Dec. 4.

It also would exact some revenge. A year ago, Tech's wild 42-35 victory knocked the Longhorns out of contention for the league title, tainting an otherwise superb rise from obscurity under first-year coach Mack Brown.

With those ramifications and distractions looming, Brown said Monday he already has talked to his players about the scenario surrounding the league title game and potential bowl games.

A victory Saturday puts the Longhorns (8-2, 5-1) in the Big 12 title game for the first time since they won the conference in 1996 with their stunning upset of Nebraska. A loss opens the door for both Texas Tech (5-4, 4-2) and Oklahoma (5-3, 3-2) instead.

Tech can win the South division by winning its last two games.

''They don't need to get into talking about championships,'' Brown said. ''What they need to do is focus on being the best team they can be this weekend. This thing is far from over.''

The players, meanwhile, are sticking to their standard ''one game at a time'' mantra. But the underlying message is clear the Longhorns savor the chance to win the South division and solidify their return to the national elite.

''After the N.C. State game (a 23-20 season-opening loss), I didn't know where we'd be,'' said safety Greg Brown, whose second-half interception return last week was the first pickoff returned for a TD for Texas since 1995.

''We figure now we control our destiny in our own hands. We win out, we go to a good bowl. If we don't, we have to go wherever.''

Last year's loss to the Red Raiders was particularly devastating. Texas went to Lubbock on a five-game winning streak and a victory would have given them a head-to-head shot for the Big 12 title game with Texas A&M two weeks later.

Particularly galling was that Texas went on to beat the Aggies, who later beat Kansas State for the conference championship.